Linda Hartough Honored by USGA for 25 Years of Painting U.S. Open Venues

(HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C.) – Linda Hartough, world-renowned golf-landscape artist (www.hartough.com), was honored by the United States Golf Association (USGA) on June 13 at the U.S. Open Championship at Pinehurst Resort & Country Club in the Village of Pinehurst, N.C. A silver artist’s palette was presented to Hartough as a tribute to her 25 years of painting the U.S. Open venues, as commissioned by the USGA. This year’s painting, 9th Hole, Pinehurst No. 2, represents Hartough’s last in the series.

“I truly enjoyed painting every golf course on which the U.S. Open has been contested these past 25 years,” Hartough said. “It was a privilege to be commissioned by the USGA to do these paintings, and I appreciate the gift of this beautiful silver artist’s palette to commemorate the series.”

Making the presentation to Hartough were Thomas J. O’Toole Jr., president of the USGA; Mike Butz, USGA senior managing director for Open championships & association relations; and Mary Lopuszynski, USGA senior director of merchandising and licensing. Also in attendance was Mary Ann Sarazen, daughter of seven-time major champion Gene Sarazen.

At this year’s U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open, Hartough showed, sold and personalized limited-edition fine art paper prints of 9th Hole, Pinehurst No. 2 in an embossed 25th anniversary edition. The limited-edition canvas giclée edition of the painting also was available, with a commemorative plaque included. In addition, Hartough sold her newest book, GREEN GLORY: A Visual Tribute to the Courses of the Majors – Golf’s Renowned Venues. Hartough was present to personalize the books as well as the prints.

About the Painting: 9th Hole, Pinehurst No. 2
Hartough visited Pinehurst last April to see the restored course for the first time. She had been there many other times to do five paintings over the years, as well as drawings for the 1999 and 2005 U.S. Open Championships. The restoration to architect Donald Ross’ original vision reclaimed the course’s natural look, “…and everywhere the holes came alive,” Hartough said. “By that I mean the holes are now visually interesting with the natural contours of the land coming through and more use of natural vegetation.

“The course now looks as though it has always been there, and I am sure it was intended to look that way…When we came to the ninth hole, I fell in love and chose it immediately for my 2014 U.S. Open painting.”

The 9th Hole, Pinehurst No. 2 is offered in a limited edition of 850 prints and an additional 85 artist proofs. Each piece in the 25th anniversary edition is signed and numbered by Hartough, and each will be embossed with the 25th anniversary edition logo.

“Linda has captured the transformation of Pinehurst No. 2’s recent restoration beautifully,” said Jay Biggs, Pinehurst’s senior vice president, golf and club operations. “She has brought out the textures and ruggedness of the hole.”